"Our weather stations kind of focuses on that [AI]. We haven't integrated it into our irrigation. Mostly data collection."

AI has the ability to greatly change the local agriculture landscape. Although he doesn't utilize the technology, Chris Worden, Ph.D. of Worden Farm— a small scale organic vegetable farm in Punta Gorda, Florida—has a strong take on AI in agriculture. 

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Worden shared his knowledge on AI, explaining that it seems good in theory, but difficult in practice. For one, AI is often perceived as cost prohibitive, and therefore inaccessible to small and local farmers. Worden also explained that small farms require a lot of hands on management, and perhaps AI would be better used by larger farms. 

Worden Farm uses technology to create crop plans and do general business, but they haven't adopted AI. Worden explains, "We only use computers to create crop plans and do general business. Our weather stations kind of focuses on that. We haven't integrated it into our irrigation. Mostly data collection." Although Worden Farm doesn't use AI, he suggested that information about the technology is accessible and younger farmers are most likely the ones who'd consider using it. 

Worden also expressed a lot of interest in the possibility of AI weed control that works on the crop level. Being an organic farm, pesticides are not an option. If a machine could mechanically remove weeds from the field, that would be a game changer. Worden shares, "I would be willing to pay a good chunk of money for that." 

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Learn more about Worden Farm 

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